Flying disk with periodic edge protrusions

ABSTRACT

A flying disk has periodic edge protrusions on the edge of the flying disk. These protrusions may be elongate and extend along the direction of the axis of the disk.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/259,957 filed Nov. 10, 2009, entitled FLYING DISK WITH PERIODIC EDGE PROTRUSIONS by T. Buker.

BACKGROUND

Flying disks rely upon lift generated by their air-foil cross-sectional shape and upon the stabilizing effects of their angular momentum. The flight distance or velocity depends almost entirely upon the arm strength and skill of the person throwing the flying disk. The present invention relates to improvements that enhance the flight distance and/or stability for a given initial velocity.

SUMMARY

The flight distance and/or stability of a flying disk is enhanced by providing periodic edge protrusions on the edge of the flying disk. These protrusions may be elongate and extend along the axis of the disk for the entire width of the flying disk edge. The edge protrusions may be of a suitable spacing, size and shape, in accordance with examples provided in the detailed description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be appreciated that certain well known processes are not discussed herein in order to not obscure the invention.

FIG. 1A is a top view of a portion of an embodiment in which the edge protrusions are each generally rectangular in aspect;

FIG. 1B is a top view of a portion of an embodiment in which the edge protrusions are each generally triangular in aspect forming a saw-tooth edge;

FIG. 1C is a top view of a portion of an embodiment in which the edge protrusions are each generally triangular in aspect but are spaced apart from one another;

FIG. 1D is a top view of a portion of an embodiment in which the edge protrusions are each generally triangular in aspect with apex of each triangular protrusion being rounded or arcuate and spaced apart from the neighboring protrusion;

FIG. 1E is a top view of a portion of an embodiment in which the edge protrusions form a generally periodic sinusoidal aspect.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away cross-sectional side view corresponding to any one of the embodiments of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A, showing the elongate shape of the periodic edge protrusions and their axial orientation.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 3.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 2, in a first embodiment, a flying disk 100 has a top surface 105 that may be generally flat or slightly bowed, a slanted annular transitional section 110 and an arcuate edge surface 115 terminating at a circular bottom edge 120. Together, the transitional section 110 and the arcuate edge surface 115 provide a surface that extends in a direction parallel with the axis of symmetry 180, and therefore may be said to extend in an axial direction.

Periodic protrusions 130 are formed in the edge surface 115 and extend out from the edge surface 115 in a generally radial direction by a height D. In the embodiment of FIG. 1A, the protrusions 130 are each of a width W in the circumferential direction 131. Successive protrusions 130 are separated by gaps 140 of a gap length G generally equal to the protrusion width W, although the gap length may be slightly less or greater than the protrusion width W. Each protrusion 130 may be of a height D that is about 3% of the diameter of the flying disk 100. For example, the protrusion height D may be in a range of 1% to 10% of the disk diameter. The protrusion width W may be in a similar range (e.g., 1%-10% of the disk diameter).

While FIG. 1A depicts the periodic edge protrusions 130 and gaps 140 as being rectangular or square in aspect, the edge protrusions 130 and gaps 140 may be of any suitable aspect, some of which are depicted in FIGS. 1B through 1E.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1B, there is provided closely spaced triangular-shaped (“saw-tooth”) protrusions 150 of similar width W and height D in place of the protrusions 130 of FIG. 1A.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1C, triangular-shaped protrusions 155 of width W and height D are provided, in place of the protrusions 130 of FIG. 1A. The triangular-shaped protrusions 155 of FIG. 1C are spaced apart from one another by gaps 157 of gap length generally equal to (or slightly less than or greater than) the protrusion width W.

The embodiment of FIG. 1D corresponds to a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1C in which the apex 161 of each protrusion 160 is rounded.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1E, the periodic edge protrusions 130 and gaps 140 of FIG. 1A are replaced by a succession of smooth periodic protrusions 170 and recesses 175 formed in the edge surface 115. The smooth periodic protrusions 170 and recesses 175 form a generally sinusoidal pattern.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A, showing the elongate shape of the periodic edge protrusions 130 and their axial orientation, and the elongate gaps 140 between adjacent protrusions 130. In the side view of FIG. 3, the periodic protrusions 130 lie in a direction generally parallel to the axis of symmetry 180 of the flying disk 100, and therefore may be said to lie along the axial direction. Similarly, the gaps 140 are elongate and lie along the axial direction.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the periodic edge protrusions 130 and gaps 140 extend from near the bottom of the arcuate edge surface 115 to near the top of the transitional section 110. However, the periodic edge protrusions 130 and gaps 140 may not necessarily extend as far as in FIG. 3. For example, in another embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the periodic edge protrusions and gaps are somewhat shorter in the axial direction, and reside almost entirely within the edge surface 115. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, as in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the periodic edge protrusions and gaps may be of any suitable shape, such as the sinusoidal shape of the smooth periodic protrusions 170 and recesses 175 FIG. 1E. Alternatively, they may assume any one of the other shapes depicted in FIGS. 1A through 1D. The periodic edge protrusions and gaps may extend over any suitable length less than or greater than or intermediate of those illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Other suitable periodic protrusions of different shapes may be employed to carry out the invention.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow. 

1. A flying disk comprising: a generally circular body; an axially extending edge at the periphery of said body; plural protrusions periodically spaced along a circumferential direction on said edge.
 2. The flying disk of claim 1 wherein each of said plural protrusions extends in a radial direction from said edge.
 3. The flying disk of claim 1 wherein said plural protrusions are generally elongate and each extends along an axial direction.
 4. The flying disk of claim 1 wherein said plural protrusions are separated by periodic gaps between successive ones of said protrusions.
 5. The flying disk of claim 1 wherein each of said protrusions has a width W and a depth D, wherein W and D are each within 1%-10% of the diameter of said flying disk.
 6. The flying disk of claim 5 wherein said protrusions are separated by periodic gaps between successive ones of said protrusions, each of said gaps having a gap length similar to said width W. 